Auto-configuration of routes between neighbor devices

Abstract

In some embodiments, a method inserts, by a first computing device, a first value for a capability in a first message that is used in a process to automatically exchange capability values with a second computing device. The first value for the capability indicates the first computing device requires a default route to reach the second computing device as a next hop for sending a packet to a destination. The first computing device sends the first message to the second computing device; and receives a second value for the capability in a second message from the second computing device. The second value indicating the second computing device will send the default route to reach the second computing device. When the default route is received from the second computing device, the first computing device stores the default route from the second computing device in a route table.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 inserting, by a first computing device, a first value for a capability in a first message that is used in a process to automatically exchange capability values with a second computing device, wherein the first value for the capability indicates the first computing device requires a default route to reach the second computing device as a next hop for sending a packet to a destination; 
 sending, by the first computing device, the first message to the second computing device; 
 receiving, by the first computing device, a second value for the capability in a second message from the second computing device, the second value indicating the second computing device will send the default route to reach the second computing device; and 
 when the default route is received from the second computing device, storing, by the first computing device, the default route from the second computing device in a route table. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the default is used to reach the second computing device when no other specific routes match a destination of a packet in the route table. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first message and the second message are sent during a session establishment between neighbors in a network segment. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second computing device configures itself to only send the default route to the first computing device based on receiving the first value in the first message. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a command to configure the first computing device with the capability of the first value, wherein the first computing device inserts the first value in the first message automatically after receiving the command. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 sending, by the first computing device, the first message to multiple second computing devices that can send the packet to the destination as the next hop, wherein the second computing devices are configured to send the default route to the first computing device; and 
 receiving, by the first computing device, a second value for the capability in a second message from the multiple second computing devices, the second value indicating the multiple second computing devices will send the default route. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first computing device receives a packet from the second computing device, 
 the first computing device selects a destination for the packet, and 
 the first computing device does not process a packet sent from the destination to the second computing device. 
 
     
     
       8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instructions, that when executed, control a first computing device to be operable for:
 inserting, by a first computing device, a first value for a capability in a first message that is used in a process to automatically exchange capability values with a second computing device, wherein the first value for the capability indicates the first computing device requires a default route to reach the second computing device as a next hop for sending a packet to a destination; 
 sending, by the first computing device, the first message to the second computing device; 
 receiving, by the first computing device, a second value for the capability in a second message from the second computing device, the second value indicating the second computing device will send the default route to reach the second computing device; and 
 when the default route is received from the second computing device, storing, by the first computing device, the default route from the second computing device in a route table. 
 
     
     
       9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the default is used to reach the second computing device when no other specific routes match a destination of a packet in the route table. 
     
     
       10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the first message and the second message are sent during a session establishment between neighbors in a network segment. 
     
     
       11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the second computing device configures itself to only send the default route to the first computing device based on receiving the first value in the first message. 
     
     
       12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , further operable for:
 receiving a command to configure the first computing device with the capability of the first value, wherein the first computing device inserts the first value in the first message automatically after receiving the command. 
 
     
     
       13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , further operable for:
 sending, by the first computing device, the first message to multiple second computing devices that can send the packet to the destination as the next hop, wherein the second computing devices are configured to send the default route to the first computing device; and 
 receiving, by the first computing device, a second value for the capability in a second message from the multiple second computing devices, the second value indicating the multiple second computing devices will send the default route. 
 
     
     
       14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the first computing device receives a packet from the second computing device, 
 the first computing device selects a destination for the packet, and 
 the first computing device does not process a packet sent from the destination to the second computing device. 
 
     
     
       15. A method comprising:
 inserting, by a first computing device, a first value for a capability in a first message that is used in a process to automatically exchange capability values with a second computing device, the first value indicating the first computing device will send a default route to reach the second computing device as a next hop for sending a packet to a destination; 
 sending, by the first computing device, the first message to the second computing device; 
 receiving, by the first computing device, a second value for the capability in a second message from the second computing device, wherein the second value for the capability indicates the second computing device requires the default route to reach the first computing device; and 
 setting, by the first computing device, a configuration to send the default route to reach the first computing device to the second computing device. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the configuration only sends the default route to the second computing device. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first message and the second message are sent during a session establishment between neighbors in a network segment. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 receiving, from the second computing device, specific routes to reach other computing devices using the second computing device as the next hop. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 receiving a command to configure the first computing device with the capability of the first value, wherein the first computing device inserts the first value in the first message automatically after receiving the command. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the configuration is set automatically upon receiving the second value for the capability.